Huge get for #LSU: CB Derek Stingley, Rivals No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2019, just commited to the Tigers over UF and Texas, among others. Plays both ways. Freakish 6-1, 195-pounder who has a 42-inch vertical and is the grandson of the late Darryl Stingley.

247Sportslists him as a 5-star player, Louisiana's second-ranked prospect and the No. 1 corner. The commitment gives LSUthe 15th-rankedrecruiting class for 2019, per247Sports.

Before committing to LSU, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native was recruited by the likes of Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas. As he revealed in May, his final decision came down to the Tigers, the Gators and the Longhorns.

The good news for Tigersfans is that he made it clear that once he announced his decision, there will be no changing his mind. He had previously decommitted from the school last year.

LSU's recruitment of the defensive back was likely helped by the fact that they did the little things, like surprising him on his birthday:

As much as having Stingley on the team helps the Tigers, it's also an added bonus that they were able to keep him from the rival Gators.

Of course, the hometown team had to feel good about its chance for a while. The high schooler announced earlier this year that the Tigers were the front-runner.

"LSU is my leader," Stingley said, via SECCountry.com'sSam Spiegelman. "Everyone else still has a shot, though. If those schools keep working like they have, then we'll see how things turn out, but right now, LSU leads."

While other teams still had time to change his mind, he made it clear that his connection to LSU goes back years.

"It's just the relationships," Stingley noted, via Spiegelman. "We have built a relationship since my 9th grade year. That's a long time, and I'm close with them. Some schools are just jumping on board. They have a long ways to go."